Billboard ranks music's top-earning performers each year, and the 23-year-old Swift tops this year's rankings with a combination of sales, touring and sponsorships, earning $39,699,575.60 (where'd the .60 come from?). Billboard says Swift ranked eighth in album sales, sixth in downloads and fifth in streaming royalties. Swift also was music's top earner two years ago.

Three of the top-10 money makers came from the country world: Luke Bryan ranked eighth, with more than $22 million income, placing behind Maroon 5 but ahead of P!nk.

As the countdown to Jan. 26's Grammy Awards continues, it was announced Tuesday that, as usual, an album featuring a bunch of this year's nominated tunes will be made available.

"2014 Grammy Nominees," due Jan. 21, will spotlight the artists and songs in the record of the year, album of the year, song of the year, best new artist, best pop solo performance and best country album categories. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Recording Academy's charities the Grammy Foundation and MusiCares Foundation.

Katy Perry (photo: Karen Kraft/The Tennessean).

Those purchasing the album can also enter a contest for tickets to the big night when pre-ordering the album on the Grammys' official site. Albums purchased in stores will include a special game piece with a unique code through which they can also vie for tickets.

One day after the awards, a group of Grammy winners will team up on stage to pay tribute to The Beatles for the taping of ""The Night That Changed America: A GRAMMY Salute To The Beatles," TV special, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the band's historic first appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Nashville country star Keith Urban is part of the all-star lineup, along with a reunited Eurythmics, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Maroon 5 and John Mayer.

Taylor Swift accepts the award for favorite album - country for "Red" at the American Music Awards at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013, in Los Angeles. Click image for a photo gallery of the AMA. (Photo: John Shearer / Invision / AP)

By Chris Talbott
Associated Press

Taylor Swift’s fans have done it again, voting her the American Music Awards artist of the year for a third time.

Swift won Sunday night’s top honor, giving her a leading four trophies. Justin Timberlake was next with three.

Swift didn’t perform, but she was a constant presence on stage and the camera alighted on her as she danced to stars like Kendrick Lamar and Luke Bryan.

In this image provided by NBC Blake Shelton, Danielle Bradbery and Cher, right, pose after Bradbery won season-four of "The Voice" Tuesday, June 18, 2013. Bradbery never had a big singing gig or a vocal lesson. It's also the third win for her coach Blake Shelton. (AP Photo/NBC, Trae Patton)

The 16-year-old country singer said she was "overwhelmed with emotion" when she was crowned the winner of the NBC singing competition Tuesday.

"I mean confetti and fireworks in the background and being handed this really heavy trophy. It was all so incredibly overwhelming," Bradbery said of her crowning moment.

"But I mean, I finished the song like they told me to. But yeah, it was scary."

No one was more proud than Bradbery's doting coach Blake Shelton, who helped the young powerhouse beat out indie rocker Michelle Chamuel and country duo the Swon Brothers for the season four title and also happened to be celebrating his 37th birthday.

"I've been drinking. Just so you know, I'll be honest," he admitted on the post-show red carpet. "This started out a special day because it's my birthday. And my wife's here with me and we've be en having fun. We watched last night's episode on DVR when we got home and the two of us decided that it's up in the air. ... To see that Danielle won, that's a big deal for me obviously. But it's a bigger deal for this show because Danielle Bradbery is actually a true amateur and we saw her go from being that to a pro before our very eyes."

Pop/rock hitmakers fun. hit the stage first to run through a delicate, orchestral arrangement of their breakthrough hit, "We Are Young," replacing its heavy beat with small string and brass sections. The song's guest artist, Janelle Monae, wasn't on hand for rehearsals, but will perform with the group on Wednesday's show.

"The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!!" airs at 9 p.m. Wednesday, December 5 on CBS from Bridgestone Arena. The show is open to the public, and tickets are $39.15 - $254.50 at www.ticketmaster.com or 1-800-745-3000.

As Dean and leaders in the economic development and tourism industries see it, the nationally televised program -- held outside Los Angeles for the first time since its inception five years ago – provides validation that Nashville is an all-inclusive music city.

It’s an image officials are eager to put into the psyche of people across the country as they work to shed the long-held perception that Nashville is only open to country music.

Getting that message out, Dean and others believe, is crucial to efforts to boosting everything from tourism to businesses investment in Nashville. Nearly 10 million people watched last year’s nominations concert special on CBS, a 12 percent improvement from 2010.

“What I think it really does for somebody who is not familiar with Nashville, or has an image of Nashville that does not comport with reality, is that it helps them to see what Nashville really is,” Dean said. “It spreads the word in a way we couldn’t on our own.”

It will fly by in an hour when it’s broadcast live on CBS this Wednesday, but “The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!!” has come a long way to make its Music City debut — and there’s still plenty of work to be done before it airs.

Ken Ehrlich, executive producer of the nominations concert as well as the Grammy Awards, estimates that between 200 and 250 people will work on the concert, between the production team, talent and arena staff. Set-up at the arena began last week, and much of the team arrived in Nashville over the weekend to start ensuring that eight best-selling acts will have time to perform for a live TV audience.

A few years ago, announcing the nominees wasn’t nearly this complicated — or exciting. The Recording Academy would traditionally reveal the nominees at an early-morning press conference. In 2008, Ehrlich and Recording Academy president Neil Portnow were ready for a change.

“It was my feeling, and Neil shared that feeling, that the announcement of the Grammys was an event on its own,” Ehrlich said. “And it deserved more than just 60 media people in a room with some cameras.”

Pop-rock favorites Maroon 5 will perform an exclusive concert for attendees following the live broadcast on CBS.

The televised portion of the evening will be co-hosted by Taylor Swift and LL Cool J, and feature performances from Luke Bryan, Maroon 5 and more to be announced. The show is open to the public, and tickets are $39.15 - $254.50 at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000.